Isn't it adorable though?!
There’s really nothing quite like exploring a brand new city. Luckily, I had the opportunity to wander around Savannah, Georgia for a weekend in April, which was absolutely delightful (and not just because of the to-go mimosas I sipped on all day). And some of my favorite things to discover in a new place are the best little bookshops. After a little research, I came across E. Shaver, Bookseller, right in the heart of Savannah’s historic district.
E. Shaver, Bookseller is the oldest independent bookstore in Savannah, and it’s been locally owned and operated since 1975. Also, it’s adorable, y’all.
Right as I walked in, I was greeted by a friendly staff that was genuinely interested in helping me find a great book. The owner even stopped in the middle of her lunch break to chat with me for a bit about the shop. The place was quite bustling on an early Saturday afternoon, but it looked like everyone was getting plenty of attention from the staff.
Some of the local and regional selection
E. Shaver, Bookseller has seven rooms of fiction and nonfiction books, but they specialize in local and regional books on topics like history, architecture, gardening, and the Civil War. It definitely has a truly local feel, and I had a great time digging into some books on Savannah’s rich (and spooky!) history.
Also. Y’all. There are TWO shop cats. Their names are Bartleby and Eliot, and they’re amazing. The shop’s website even features some poetry written by Bartleby himself!
Eliot and Bartleby (Photo from eshaverbooks.com)
On top of the great books and the greater cats, E. Shaver, Bookseller hosts a ton of cool events, including some book clubs that sound downright magnificent. In the next month alone, these book clubs are meeting: Graphic Novel Book Club, Lost in a Great Book Club, Feminist Book Club (Um, hello! Sign us up!), Sci Fi and Fantasy Book Club, and Happy Hour Book Club. Can we be in all of these?
There are also several stellar book signings coming up in the next month with Rosalind Bunn, Sue Langford, and Andrew Lawler.
If you can’t make it to Savannah in person, you can buy books from E. Shaver’s website, and you can even check out the staff members’ picks and see what they’re recommending lately.
If you do have the good fortune of visiting Savannah, this shop is a must-see. And the cats are a must-pet. It’s such a charming place to visit, and if I could have sat there and read for hours that day, I would have.
If you’ve been to E. Shaver, Bookseller, let us know what you thought!